Jack Burden

Writer | Jack Burden

A collection of article’s by RTB’s editor-in-chief.

Welcome to the Multiverse Inside the Water Ski Multiverse: Nautique’s Power Play Begins November 16, 2025 Nautique’s breakaway tour has redrawn the map of pro skiing overnight—pulling the sport into a fractured multiverse of competing tours.
Regina Jaquess slaloms at the 2025 Travers Grand Prix 2025’s Unofficial Professional Water Ski Rankings November 2, 2025 What if every major tournament counted? RTB's unofficial rankings reveal an arguably more complete picture of who really ruled pro skiing in 2025.
UL Lafayette claimed its sixth consecutive Division 1 national championship Ragin’ Cajuns Capture Sixth Straight National Title, Extend Historic Streak October 21, 2025 UL Lafayette claimed its sixth consecutive NCWSA national title extending a dominant streak that now ranks as the second-longest in collegiate water ski history.
Joel Poland Keeps Breaking World Records — and Making It Look Easy The Joel Poland Effect: When World Records Become Routine October 14, 2025 Joel Poland’s reign has sparked a new kind of arms race. As rivals close the gap, he keeps raising the bar—driving a cycle of collective greatness in water skiing.
Hanna Straltsova world record Straltsova Ends 13-Year Reign with New World Record October 12, 2025 Hanna Straltsova’s world overall record has been officially ratified by the IWWF, eclipsing the sport’s longest-standing mark by less than a third of a point.
Sergio Font leads the IWWF Trick Committee IWWF Trick Committee Moves Toward Major Scoring Overhaul October 8, 2025 The IWWF is contemplating the first major scoring overhaul in more than 20 years—raising values for high difficulty flips and signaling a new era for trick skiing.
Freddie Winter sealed his Waterski Pro Tour title with a victory at the Travers Grand Prix Seven 41s: Travers Grand Prix Shatters the Ceiling October 1, 2025 History was made at the 2025 Travers Grand Prix, with record-breaking runs and season titles for Freddie Winter and Jaimee Bull.
Charlie Ross skis for Rollins College Charlie Ross Makes History: Two 41-Offs, Two Tournaments, One Day September 25, 2025 First shattering Will Asher’s 22-year-old collegiate record, then dueling Nate Smith to the wire at the MasterCraft Pro — Charlie Ross made history this past weekend.
Hanna Straltsova jumps at the 2024 WWS Canada Cup The Home Stretch: What’s Left to Play for in the 2025 Water Ski Season September 17, 2025 With four marquee events left on the calendar, season titles on the Pro Tour and Overall Tour still hang in the balance.
Jean-Francois Rapp with the Duplan-Fribourg siblings Tributes Flow for Jean-François Rapp, Mentor Behind the Duplan-Fribourg Dynasty September 16, 2025 A French champion turned coach, Jean-François Rapp shaped generations of skiers—most recently guiding the Duplan-Fribourg brothers to the top of the world stage.
The IWWF has selected Mailbu as its official towboat IWWF Awards Towboat Contract to Malibu in Long-Rumored Industry Shakeup September 16, 2025 Once thought to be scaling back its involvement in tournament skiing, Malibu Boats is now poised to tow the world’s biggest events—ending Nautique’s decade-long reign.
Golden Lake Ski Club in Poti Georgia Crumbling Concrete, Pristine Waters: Pro Tour Lands in Georgia’s Forgotten Ski Mecca September 5, 2025 In Stalin’s backyard, water skiing rises again. The Pro Tour hits Poti, Georgia — a forgotten Soviet hub where overgrown ruins surround the picturesque Golden Lake.